Understanding the Role of miR-33 in Brain Lipid Metabolism: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease

Schematic representation of the main findings reported in this study as well as of other pathways potentially regulated by miR-33 relevant to AD. Kim et al. (2015) demonstrated the essential function of miR-33 in modulating ABCA1 expression and how this transporter influenced cholesterol content of ApoE and, thereby, Aβ production and degradation (black fonts, center). miR-33 might exert further control on lipid metabolism by regulating the expression of the transcription factors SRBEF1 and 2 (white fonts, left). Other miR-33 targets (e.g., cyclin-dependent kinases) might further contribute to AD pathogenesis by activating complementary pathways [e.g., tau phosphorylation (white fonts, right)].